“Zeke who?” Jerry Jones quipped in 2019, inadvertently setting the stage for a $90 million payday. Five years later, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in familiar territory, with star receiver CeeDee Lamb holding out for a new contract. As the ‘Boys’ brass wrestles with this déjà vu scenario, former NFL wide receiver James Jones has tossed his hat into the ring, backing Lamb’s play with the fervor of a fourth-quarter comeback.

Jones, speaking on the NFL’s “SPEAK” YouTube show today, didn’t mince words about Lamb’s value to America’s Team. “CeeDee is the offense,” he declared, adding, “CeeDee is very, very valuable for them, damn near almost as valuable as Dak Prescott.” This bold statement puts Lamb’s importance on par with the Cowboys’ $40 million man under center, a comparison that’s sure to raise eyebrows from Arlington to Amarillo.

Lamb’s production speaks for itself. In 2023, he led the league with 135 receptions, amassed 1,749 receiving yards (second only to Tyreek Hill‘s 1,799), and scored 12 touchdowns. James Jones emphasized this point, saying, “Let’s not forget, when we seen the Dak Prescott who did they bring in there? Amari Cooper, who created separation immediately, and we were like, ‘Oh shoot, Dak can throw it, Dak is good because he had a really good receiver to throw to that created separation immediately.’ That’s CeeDee.”

The plot thickens when you consider Dak Prescott‘s contract saga. The quarterback, who’s no stranger to drawn-out negotiations, seems to be playing for Team CeeDee. “He’s wanting to get back, ready to get back, hoping this thing gets done for him. I know I am as well,” Prescott told reporters last week, contradicting Jerry Jones’s “no urgency” stance faster than a Tony Romo audible.

This apparent disconnect between the Cowboys’ front office and their field general highlights the complex dynamics at play. It’s a chess game where every move counts and Lamb seems to be eyeing checkmate. As James Jones pointed out, “CeeDee Lamb is not in this building. CeeDee Lamb is letting you know, if I do not have a contract, I am not playing in the Dallas Cowboys uniform this season.”

But here’s where it gets interesting. Jones dropped a bombshell that could explain Lamb’s strategy: “If CeeDee Lamb and Dak were both in camp and they’re both there, you get the quarterback done first.” This revelation suggests that Lamb’s holdout isn’t just about money – it’s about timing and leverage in a high-stakes game of contract chicken.

CeeDee Lamb follows Ezekiel Elliott’s playbook

Lamb’s holdout playbook looks eerily similar to Ezekiel Elliott’s 2019 strategy. Elliott’s 40-day Cabo getaway resulted in a record-breaking payday, proving that sometimes, the squeaky wheel does get the grease – or in this case, a $90 million contract with $50 million guaranteed. “CeeDee could be there; he’s choosing not to be there. So, you can reward CeeDee for doing what Dak Prescott could also choose to do. But should we make the same mistake? That’s what Zeke did. Zeke got paid first because he decided to go to Cabo, and Dak went to practice. So, the Cowboys have already rewarded bad behavior, if you will, once when they did that with Ezekiel Elliott.” Acho didn’t hold back his words.

Elliott, now watching from the sidelines, offered some veteran insight into Lamb’s situation. “It’s really tough, because you go through your first three to four years and you guys are on the same side,” he explained to reporters at the training camp. “This is the first time that now you’re kind of going against each other. So you got to have a little thick skin… but at the end of the day, we all have the same goal and we all support CeeDee.”

The Cowboys’ history of eleventh-hour deals adds another layer to this contractual onion. As one NFC executive put it as per Yahoo News, “Holding out [is] a path of mutual destruction. You’re doing that because you think it’s gonna hurt us. It’s gonna hurt you just as bad.” Yet, the Cowboys seem to dance this tango time and again, leaving fans wondering if they’re watching a rerun of “As the Star Turns.”

Micah Parsons, the Cowboys’ defensive wrecking ball, seems confident this soap opera will have a happy ending. “CeeDee checked in on me,” Parsons revealed recently via the team’s official site. “He’s been watching the practice film and telling me, ‘You’re going crazy.'” Parsons even went as far as to guarantee Lamb’s Week 1 appearance, stating, “On Week 1, he will be suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Jones, the Cowboys’ COO and master of understatement, described the negotiations as “very cordial and upbeat.” He added at the end of July, “We’re optimistic we’ll continue to work toward getting something done.” This optimism, however, feels about as reassuring as a preventive defense in the fourth quarter.

As the clock ticks down to the season opener, all eyes are on Jerry World. Will CeeDee Lamb’s holdout pay off like Zeke’s Cabo adventure, or will the Cowboys change their playbook? One thing’s for sure – in Dallas, contract drama is as much a part of the tradition as the star on the helmet.